Leguminous plants (Fabaceae)

The evolution of this large family (9 000 species) started with a number of tropical trees.

The further development resulted in tropical and subtropical herbages (bean species) on the one hand, and herbages of the temperate zones (pea, clover) on the other hand. Well-known descendants of the early group are brooms (Genista), lupins (Lupinus), robinia (Robinia pseudoacacia) and Wisteria. The agricultural importance of many herbaceous species (beans, clover, pea, lentils) is even increased by their ability to fix nitrogen due to the symbiosis with nodule forming bacteria (Rhizobium). The figure shows flowers of dyer´s greenweed (Genista tinctoria).